What is psychoanalysis?

What is psychoanalysis? For whom is it the recommended treatment of choice? What methods are used? How does it work? Who is a psychoanalyst and how are psychoanalysts trained? And, most importantly, will it work for me?

What is psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis is a theory, a research method, and most importantly, a form of intensive psychotherapy. The goal of psychoanalysis is character development and character change. That is, psychoanalysis aims to change a person's very foundation.

Take for example, the man who enters into a new relationship and begins to fall in love. He and his girlfriend decide to be monogamous. Then, he finds himself desperately drawn to other women. He becomes aware that he resents having to rely on his girlfriend. He has not yet discovered that he is anxious and panicky at the thought of feeling trapped, or still worse, rejected. His fear of being trapped is intense. He is unaware that at an unconscious level, he is afraid to trust anyone. Similarly, he may be unaware of the childhood antecedents that led to this fear. Perhaps, during his early years, his primary caretaker was unreliable or not well attuned to his emotional needs. Thus, at a level outside of his awareness he may have felt that he couldn't rely on her. Yet, he needed her. Perhaps he attempted to manage this as a small child by not relying on others. Now, as an adult he encounters others who may be reliable. But, he neither knows how to assess who is reliable nor how to trust anyone.

His fear of being trapped is so great that he begins to surreptitiously date other women. When his lover learns this, she rejects him. He feels bereft and he feels abandoned. Those who know him well may see that he is in quite a bind. Caught between a rock and a hard spot, if he's committed and monogamous, he feels trapped. If he attempts to alleviate the frightening feels of being engulfed or controlled, he loses the woman for whom he cares. In order to accomplish this goal the psychoanalyst helps individuals to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings and motivations.

What methods are used?

Psychoanalysts use many methods to help analysands (people in analysis) to become more self-aware. These include, "free association", dreams, "flash thoughts", day dreams, fantasies, creating a confidential and safe atmosphere, the couch and regular and frequent appointments, four or four times a week. Treatment spans a significant period of time. Each will be addressed in turn.

Free Association

Analysands are asked to "free associate", or to say what comes to mind without censoring. Unlike everyday talking where, as a matter of tact, one edits one's thoughts, in psychoanalysis, the patient is asked to report their thoughts without regard to the listener.

Reporting dreams, day dreams, 'flash' thought and fantasies

Similarly, patients are asked to report dreams, day dreams, "flash thoughts" and fantasies. Also, both patient and psychoanalyst attend to "slips of the tongue" and the patient's demeanor. Notably, Freud characterized dreams as, "the royal road to the unconscious". The idea in psychoanalysis is that we are motivated or driven by conflictual aspects of ourselves that are outside of our awareness, the goal of analysis is to make the unconscious conscious. An aim of psychoanalysis is to gain a window into the patient's unconscious. Saying what comes to mind, reporting dreams, describing fantasies and avoiding censorship allows both analyst and patient to become increasingly aware of the patient's unconscious fantasies and beliefs.

Creating a confidential and safe atmosphere

A confidential atmosphere allows patients or analysands to begin to speak openly. Except for in a few limited circumstances, your psychoanalyst is legally bound not to divulge your confidences. That is, your communication with your psychoanalyst is completely private.

Reclining on a couch

To promote a focus inward, patients are asked to recline on a couch, with the analyst sitting behind them. Often, this allows both patient and analyst to reflect on the patient's associations. Initially lying on seems unfamiliar, however, most individuals find that it allows them to focus on their inner world.

Appointments four or five times a week over a period of several years

Typically people come to psychoanalysis to deal with difficulties that have troubled them for many years. Some have had previous therapy and have found that it did not allow them to fully resolve their difficulties. Others have had no previous treatment, but, recognize that this more intensive approach is warranted in order to resolve their difficulties. For example, they may struggle with long-standing difficulties, expressing their feelings, asserting themselves, making commitments, having intimate relationships, relating to bosses and coworkers, feeling anxious or inhibited, feeling depressed, selecting friends or lovers who are consistently unreliable or disappointing, completing or excelling in school or college, identifying and pursuing their work-life goals, or not getting what they want out of life.

Often these troubles are the result of beliefs that are outside of their conscious awareness. Thus, the goal is to promote self-awareness. To heighten awareness of one's inner feelings and motivations, analysands come several times a week. Although patients are often surprised by the recommendation of frequent appointments most find that this intensifies the process and leads to greater openness.

If you are interested in a psychoanalytic approach but feel that your concerns warrant a less intensive treatment, you might consider psychoanalytic psychotherapy (also called, psychodynamic psychotherapy). Psychodynamic psychotherapy meets once, twice or three times a week.

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Disclaimer

The site, Washington-dc-psychologist.com does not provide psychological or work-life advice to any specific individual. Rather, the content is intended to be for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns regarding a psychological or work-life difficulty, seek professional evaluation. Do not disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of anything that you have read on this web site.